Method and the means for shaping tubes



June 17, 1930.

E. J. GULICK METHOD AND THE MEANS FOR SHAPING TUBES Filed Feb. 8, 1928lmnu.

Patented June 17,193tl stares PATENT OFFICE EDWARD J". GULICK, OF'ELKHART, INDIANA, ASSIGNOR TO 0. G. CONN, LTD, OF ELK- HART, INDIANA, ACORPORATION OF INDIANA METHOD AND THE MEANS FOR SHAPING TUBESApplication filed February 8, 1928. Serial No. 252,709.

The present common method for the manufacture of metal tubing for use inwind musical instruments, such as horns, and the like, consists in theformation of a tube body from a flat sheet of ductile metal, the jointbeing Welded or brazed, and rolled, the tube being then cylindricallyshaped in cross-section by the application of a mandril to the tubeinteriorand by hammering the tube ex- .terior. This method is slow andcostly.

The principal object of niy invention is to provide means and a methodfor shaping a deformed ductile metal tube by fluid pressure on theinterior of the tube.

Another object of the invention is to provide the means and method forcyli'ndrically shaping a deformed ductile metal tube, previously madefrom a flat sheet, by fluid pressure uniformly applied to the. tubeinterior.

Other objects are mentioned and described herein.

The preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in theaccompanying drawing wherein,

Figure 1 is a side view of a tapered tube made from a flat sheet ofductile metal;

Fig. 2'is a cross-section thereof;

Fi 3 illustrates the tube and an interior man ril in cross-section, andthe application of a roller for rolling the tube joint;

Fig. 4 illustrates the tool for'cylindrically shaping one end of thedeformed tube;

Fig. 5 illustrates the tool for flaring the tube end, and illustratesthe opposite end of the tube when sealed;

Fig. 6 shows the tube and the tool for introducing fluid under pressureto the-interior of the tube; and,

Fig. 7 illustrates the finished tube.

Similar numerals of reference indicate'likeparts throughout the severalviews on the drawing.

In the manufacture of brass tubing used in horns, and some other musicalinstruments, it is common practice to form a tube from a flat sheet ofductile metal, such as brass, the tube having a brazed lap joint, asillustrated in Figures 1 and 2. It is also well knownin the same artthat the longitudinal joint of such a tube must be rolled flat andsubstantially flush by the use of an interior Y various figures of thedrawing a tapered tube is illustrated only for convenience.

To enable the use and application of th shaping tool to the tube 3,which is more or less oval and deformed in cross-section after the jointthereof has been rolled, one end thereof is first cylindrically formedat 4 by the introduction to the interior thereof, for a short distance,of a blunt nosed cylindrical tool 5. Then, the outer end of this. tubesection 4 is slightly belled at 6 by the introduction of the pointedtool 7 which may be rotated to produce the flare at 6. The tool 7 mayhave a plurality of shaping ribs 8 on its point to facilitate the flaredformation of the tube at 6. The lower or opposite end of the tube 3 isthen closed and sealed at 9 in any suitable manner, as by folding theend upon itself and soldering the fold. The tube is then in condition toreceive the tool which applies the fluid under pressure to the tubeinterior, and this tool may comprise the head 10, the gland 11, and theclamping bolts 12 and 13,

together with the pipe 14 which may be screw threaded into the gland.

The tool head 10 is provided with an aperture 15 which'is engaged by thetube section .4, and an annular beveled seat portion 16 whichencompasses the edge of the opening 15 and upon which the outer surfaceof the tube flare 6 may seat to seal against leakage of fluid underpressure. The gland 11 is provided with a boss 17 which may be somewhatconiform to correspond with the inner surface of the tube flare 6 andagainst which said boss is adapted to engage to close the tube end andto seal the same when the tube flare is clamped snugly between said headand gland any suitable source of supply of either air or water underpressure, which, ,when introduced to the interior of the tube 3, exertsa uniform pressure thereon and spreads the tube walls, therebyefiectinga perfect cylindricity thereof in cross-section. Thereafter,the head and gland are removed from the tube and the latter is'thencompleted by removing the closed end 9 and the flared sec- 10 tion 6.

I claim 1 v1. The method of cylindrically shaping a deformed hollowductile metal tube which is exteriorly un-reenforced, which consists ofclosing one end of the tube by folding it upon itself, then flaring theopposite end of the tube, then closing said flared tube end by a toolwhich is clamped on both sides of the Wall of the tube flared portion,then introduci ng fluid under pressure through said tool to the tubeinterior to spread the walls thereof, and then removing any deformationremaining in the tube ends including the folded end.

2. A tool for shaping a deformed unreenforced ductile metal elementhaving an opening therein which comprises a ring-like head encompassingthe tube end and provided with a flared end, a gland element providedwith a ribbed boss adapted to flare and close the end of the tubularelement by pressing same snugly against the flared portion of said head,screw means for clamping the end of the tubular element between theribbed boss of said gland element and said flared end of the ring-likehead, and means for introducing fluid under pressure through said glandelement to the interior of the tubular element to spread the walls ofthe latter.

In witness whereof I aflix my signature this 6th day of February, 1928.

EDWARD J. GULICK.

